Folding oxford eyeglasses



Sept. 11, 1934. v TANASSO ET AL 1,973,126

FOLDING OXFORD EYEGLASSES INVENTORS b? 'Y -ATTORNEY Patented sept. 11, 1934 1,973,126:

Unirse STATES .PATeN'roFFicE 'weg Vincent Tanasso, Harrison, and Jacob J. Pomeranz, Brooklyn, N. Y

Application october 31, 1932, serial No. 640,400 claims. (ci. sis- 44) This invention relates, generally, to eye-glass derstood from the following detailed description frames having metallic discontinuous rims; and of the same. f the invention has reference, more particularly, to The invention is clearly illustrated in the y,aca novel stream-line form of spring hinge conneccompanying drawing, in which:

5 tion for connecting the spring bridge to discon- Fig. 1 is an outer face view of a metallic eye- 60 tinuous metallic rims in Oxford, lorgnette and glass frame of the folding Oxford type embodysimilar types of folding eye-glass frames. ing the principles of the present invention.

Eye-glasses of the folding type, such as Oxford Fig. 2 isa View of the frame, shown in Fig. 1,

and lorgnette eye-glasses, having discontinuous in folded condition. l metallic lens rims, as heretofore generally con- Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional 65 structed, have spring hinge joints commonly beview showing a portion of the eye-glass frame ing positioned adjacent to or combined with the of Fig. 1.

separable ends of the discontinuous lens rims. Fig. 4 is a plan view of `the structure shown The presence of the separable rim end connectin Fig. 3; and ing means of such eye-glasses at or closely adja- Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, but with 7 0 cent the spring hinge joints adds to the bulkiness parts broken away to show `the interior of the of the frames in the conspicuous region at the hinged joint.

top of each lens rim where the bridge is connect- Similar characters of reference are employed ed to the rim, thereby greatly detracting from in all of the above described views to indicate 29 the appearance of the eye-glasses. corresponding parts. '1 /54 The principal object of the present invention Referring now to said drawing, the reference is to provide a novel folding Oxford eye-glass numeral 10 designates the lens rims of an all frame construction of the kind above mentioned, metal folding Oxford eye-glass frame, in which wherein the ends of the spring bridge are consaid rims are spaced apart and connected to- 25 nected to uninterrupted portions of the discongether by a spring bridge 11. The rims 10 are 80 tinuous lens rims by highly attractive spring illustrated as discontinuous, i. e. each of these hinge joints of stream-line form, the said streamrims is formed with separable meeting ends, proline hinge joints when applied to discontinuous vided with coupling means for securing said ends lens rims being positioned on the latter at points together when the rim has been assembled 30- spaccd away from the separable ends of the same, around and in holding relation to the periphery 8 5,

and preferably at points where nose-guard memof a lens 12. bers are connected thereto. In carrying out the principle of the present yAnother object of the present invention lies invention, the connectingor coupling means for in the provision of a novel spring hinge joint for securing the ends of the lens rims together, are connecting the spring bridge. to discontinuous spaced from Vthe spring vhinge joints connecting 903 metallic lens rims of folding types of Oxford eyethe lensrims to the spring bridge. AIriwthe form glass frames, which hinge joint gives the bridge of the invention shown in the drawing, the sepathe appearance of merging directly into the lens rable coupled ends of the lens rims are illustrated rims, i.- e. the upper surface of the spring bridge a5 lated at the DOHS 0f attahment 0f-the' 4oV merges into and extends within the hinge joint, ROSS-guard l13 U0 the lel'lS TimS, Which DOHS 0f 9.5

' which is, in tum, Similarly Curved and merges attachment are considerablyk removed from the inte the lens rims, giving the Spring bridge, the bridge hinge joints. As especially shown in Fig. spring hinge joints and the lens rims a trim and 3 of the drawmg the lens Tim Coupling. is mus*- neat unitary appearance, the said hinge joints trad as .Conslstmg of lugs or ears 14 3nd,'15', 45, being of extremely simple construction and hav- Whlch project rafhauy Outward rom theLpemm m0 ing cooperating hinge knuckles provided with ethof he llruls al; edmeetmg @.nds bhlff transverse shoulders serving as metal to metal ecesg Ogsock 6uoarcenrlgng 'l stop means for determining the normal out- L of the nose-guard 13 and for also receiving the Swim, 1g posltlonpf bhe mms and @Untamed lens rel'- cooperating lug 14, the said members being re- 105 ative to the bridge of the eye-glass frame, therea tained in assembled condition as by a screW 18 by positively determining and maintaining the extending through aligned apertures in lug 14, desired pupilary distance of the lensand in tongue 17 and threaded .into the lug 15. Other ObjSCS Of this llVelltlOli, not at this time The 111g 15 is illustrated 3,5 prvided with an more particularly enumerated will be clearly unaperture 16' in the side wall thereof communi- 110 cating with the recess 16, and the nose-guard tongue 1'7 is inserted through this aperture in entering the recess 16. The above described speciiic lens rim coupling structure is merely illustrative of one of many different forms of the same which may be utilized in the combination and arrangement of features embodying the present invention, `and consequently, as to its detail form, is subject more or less to variation.

The ends of the spring bridge 11 are connected to the rims 10 by spring biased hinged joints embodying the principles of the present invention. `Each of these hinge jointsV consists of a stationary hinge butt 19 xedly attached to' an uninterrupted portion of the rim lo at the upper rpart of this rim. The outer wall 2O of the hinge butt 19 is illustrated as having. substantially the same contour and is inclined in the same general direction as the adjacent end portion of the spring bridge 11, and this outer wall is also subs'tantially tangent to and merges neatly into the peripheral surface of rim 10, thereby presenting an `extremely attractive lstream-line appearance, thus avoiding disfiguring projections or. protuberances of the rim periphery,.as has heretofore existed in metallic folding Oxford eye-glasses. The side walls of hinge butt 19 are formed with perforate ears 21 and 21` for turnably receiving a pivotal pin 22. 'y

Cooperating with the hinge butt 19 is a chambered'hing'eyoke or knuckle 23 having perforate ears 24 and 24. Ears 24 and 24 are positioned adjacent and exteriorly of ears 21 and 21 of the hinge butt so as to be engaged by the pivotal i pi'1`122 when the latter is inserted through the thusassembled parts. The perforations of ears 24 and 24 are illustrated as beveled to accommodate the tapered heads of the pivotal pin 22, which tapered headsV preferably have a snug or tight fit in the apertures of ears 24 and 24. The inner andouter walls 28 and 29 of hinge yokey 23 converge from the perforate ears 24 and 24 toward the spring bridgeso as to become substantially tangent-with the end portion of this bridge 11 at the point where this end portion enters the ohambered hinge yoke 23. The bridge end portion projects into and is secured within the hollow box-like interior of the hinge yoke.

. The outer Vwall 20 of'hinge butt or knuckle 19 terminates over pivotal pin 22 to provide a transverse shoulder 25 which is normally engaged by a cooperating transverse shoulder 26 provided by the end ofthe outer wall V29 and hinge yoke. 23. The cooperating .shoulders 25 and 26 serve as stop means for 'determining the normal outswung position of the rims` 10 relative to the bridge 11, i. e. when the foldable Oxford eye-glass frame is arranged in open or unfolded Condition .ready for application to the wearers nose'V and eyes, said rims being easily retained in such outswung position by a coil torsion spring contained within the hinge butt 19 and hinge yoke 23 in surrounding relation to the pivotal pin 22, the ends of this spring serving torespectively engage the outer walls of the hinge butt and hinge yoke inpressingrelation, as especially shown in Fig 3. Sincethe stop shoulders 25 and 326 are bothformed of metal, they provide a metal to metal engagement which is 4resistant tov Iwear and A distortion, and lconsequently"the pupilary distance "of the lenses, determined by their meeting engagement, is maintained against undesired change." i v ,In use, the co'il'spring 27 cooperates with the spring-'bridge 11' to hold the lens rims and lenses that, as positioned when the eye-glasses are unfolded for use, the spring bridge 11 appears to be al continuation of the lens rims 10, uninterrupted bydisiiguring peripheral projections, thereby presenting a smooth continuous stream-line marginal contour acrossl the entire top limits of the eyeglass frame which isy of exceedingly neat and attractive appearance.

What is claimed is: v Y

1. vIn 'folding Oxford eye-glasses, in combination, vdiscontinuous metallic lens rims, the interrupted portions of said rims being disposed at the sides thereof, means to close and secure said interrupted portions of saidrims, a spring bridge intermediate said rims, and yieldable spring hinge joints between said bridge and'rims and connected with the latter at points spaced upwardly away from the interrupted portions of saidrims, each joint comprising aV stationary hinge butt, a lhinge yokey pivotally connected with said butt, saidlbutt and yoke having cooperating stop shoulders, yspring means for yieldably retaining saidb'utt and yoke in extended normal positions as determined by mutual engagement of theirstopshoulders, the butt and yoke of each jointhaving smoothly continuous streamline exterior margins 'extending' between said rims and bridge and tangent thereto'.

2. In folding Oxford eye-glasses', the combination with discontinuous metallic lens rims,V the interrupted portions of said rims being disposed at the inner sides thereof in mutually opposed relation, nose guard members, means' to both secure the interrupted portions 'of said rims in closed condition and said nose guard members to y said rims, a spring bridge intermediate said rims, and Vyieldable spring hinge joints between said bridge and rims and vconnected with the latter at points spaced upwardly away from the interrupted portions of said rims, said joints having smoothly continuous stream-line exterior margins tangent to said rim peripheries. Y i

3. In folding Oxford eye-glasses, the combination with discontinuous metallic lens rims, the interrupted portions of said rims being disposed'at 130 the 'inner sides thereof in mutually opposed relation, nose guard members, means to both secure the interrupted portions of said rims in closed condition andsaid nose guard members tov said rims, a spring bridge intermediateisaid rims, and yieldable spring'hinge joints between said bridge and rims and connected with the latter' at points spaced'upwardly away from the' interrupted portions of said rims, each joint 'comprising a stationaryhinge butt,V a hinge yoke pivotally connected with said butt, said butt and yoke having cooperating stopl shoulders, spring .means for yieldably retaining said butt and yoke in extended normalY positions as determined by mutual eni gagement of their stop shoulders, the `butt and 145 yoke of eachV joint having smoothly-continuous stream-line exterior'margins extending between said rims and bridge andtangent thereto. i

(l. Infolding Oxford eye-glasses, incombination, 'discontinuous metallic lens rims, the inter- 150 line exterior margins extending between said rims and bridge and tangent thereto. t

5. In folding Oxford eye-glasses, in combination, discontinuous metallic lens rims, the interrupted portions of said rims being disposed at the sides thereof, means to close and secure said interrupted portions of said rims, nose guards Y secured in position by said rim closing means, a spring bridge intermediate said rims, hingejoints between said bridge and rims and connected with the latter at points spaced upwardly away from the interrupted portions of said rims, each joint comprising a stationary hinge butt, and a hinge yoke pivotally connected with said butt.

VINCENT TANASSO. JACOB J. POMERANZ. 

